Final answer:
Local competition from new companies in former Eastern Bloc countries and other former command economies has indeed curtailed the expansion of international brands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that local competition from new companies in the former Eastern Bloc countries and other former command economies has curtailed the expansion of international brands is true. The forces of globalization and new communications and information technology have increased the level of competition that many firms face, including international brands, by increasing the amount of competition from other regions and countries. This is evident in the examples of countries like China, Vietnam, and Mongolia, where local companies have emerged as strong competitors and impacted the growth of international brands.